Collins, having recovered, though not as quickly as before, joins T'Var so they can go see about the Admiral and Ebling.
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Collins, having recovered, though not as quickly as before, joins T'Var so they can go see about the Admiral and Ebling.
Kylah starts to stand and suddenly her breath hitches slightly, feeling... something. Discomfort. With a confused frown, she looks around the table quickly and sees nothing but Collins rising slowly to her feet.
Velir's voice distracts her. "I--beg your pardon? Oh... yes, I do not see why not--" Kylah breaks off when a repeat of the strange feeling hit her, this time accompanied by Collins's slight vocalization. She lifts her hand before turning back to the mission commander, who is now standing up... again. When did she sit down?
Kylah wonders if she should say anything. Is there any expression of concern that Collins would believe genuine? She ignores her instinct for self-preservation. "Lieutenant," she says hesitantly. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," Collins lies "just maybe I overdid the coffee today." She smiles, just a little, at Kylah. "Thank you, Ensign."
Graham notices Collins: well a medical issue would explain why she's been struggling, he thinks. His level of concern rises--not just about the mission, but for her well-being. She's young, he thinks, maybe afraid of the repercussions of not completing a mission. He considers trying to pull her aside and emphasize that whatever her exchange with Vargas, if she's ill she shouldn't be "sucking it up," she should get checked out.
But he's also not sure she won't take that as condescending, given his track record communicating with almost everyone so far on the team this mission...
Collins's smile disconcerts Kylah almost as much as the brief moment of distress emanating from her did. Kylah just gives a weak nod and remains silent, deciding that the lieutenant's business is her own. Although she now wonders if this is why Collins rearranged the team--so that she could be paired with Dr. T'Var.
Just please do not let them go to the infirmary, she begs of no one in particular. Thinking of the Hsus, Kylah shifts her focus to her strategy. Should she ask for Wilson's communicator from the safe? Kylah already copied the messages over to her tricorder back when she first got access to them--a rather fortuitous decision on her part, almost bizarrely so since there was no indication at the time that they would ever be of use--but Mrs. Hsu could easily claim a forgery. If necessary I can tell her--or him--that I can produce the originals, she decides. No need to bring evidence to suspects who may have a reason to destroy it. I shall do so only as a last resort.
She moves out the door to the corridor, then looks back and waits for her partner to follow her. Her gaze falls on Rangin. Oh Velir, why could it not be you?
Graham moves to follow Kylah, now wondering if he should try to pull T'Var aside and encourage her to talk to Collins about getting checked out. Then he realizes--of course--that Collins went out of her way to pair herself with the doctor. OK, so she's going to do the right thing, he thinks--and it's probably no big deal anyway.
He can't help but chuckle out loud as he reaches the corridor. Maybe I should still pull the Doc aside and encourage her to talk to Rangin getting the stick out of his ass.
Seeing Lt. Collins like that is disconcerting, especially her response to Kylah. Rangin hopes it just an after effect of the nerves and if there is anything wrong Dr T'Var would be on hand. As Kylah and Graham head through the door Rangin ghosts up behind him with Lt. Delaney.
"Something funny Mr Graham? I could do with cheering up." Rangin addresses to the back of the man's head in a jovial tone. "I hope you don't mind us joining along to the Admin offices, we should be able to find out where Mr Khövsgöl might be."
His voice becomes even more calm and pleasant as he steps alongside Kylah. "Kylah, I'm sorry to ask, but I wasn't paying that much attention to Mr Khövsgöl during the spore introduction. I was paying more attention to the spores instead, which was a lot more interesting. Is there anything else you can tell Lt. Delaney and I about him before we talk to him. I would be most grateful." He smiles across at her while waiting for a reply.
Kylah looks at Velir and is struck by the realization this is the first time they've been in a conversation since... well, since everything changed. She wants to smile at him but is afraid to show too much in front of the others. A simple warm glance is all she grants him before speaking.
"I wish I could be more helpful," she says, "but I did not see much of him. Lt. Delaney will remember that Mr. Khövsgöl was the one who collected us when we were at the pool. He was polite enough, despite it being clear that we were not where Mr. Wilson wished us. I do wonder why Wilson was so anxious about our looking around the resort; what was he worried we would find?"
She shakes her head. "At any rate, during the spore introduction, I too was paying attention to the guests and how they were... how they were reacting." Kylah pauses, remembering how bowled over she had been by the guests' bliss; it was intoxicating even by proxy. If she had known what would happen, that she would soon be foolish enough to attempt to recapture that experience--
"So I cannot help you," Kylah says hurriedly and returns her gaze forward. "You and Lt. Delaney have the same knowledge I do."
"Oh well, we will just have to see what we can get from him. He's probably just another standard employee, but let's hope he has something useful we don't yet know." Rangin smiles at Kylah enjoying the moment of walking alongside her.
"Before I forget, Mr Graham. When you do find Mr Hsu, you should be able to get him to add your colleagues to the security database to allow them access to the Command Post. Otherwise they will be locked out." Rangin considered it better to get Graham to sort it out, than point out something else that Lt. Collins had missed.
"Oh you know," Graham says to Rangin, "I can't help but chuckle when I reminisce about particularly entertaining uses of force over the years." He shrugs and gestures like he's had a great idea. "Maybe when have downtime back on the Yorktown, I'll do a dramatic recitation of my top ten. I'll save you a front-row seat."
He clears his throat. "But, ah, anyway on a serious note, yeah, thanks for the reminder to hook the squad up with entry authorization." He shakes his head. "If Mahmoud can't get his afternoon snack things might get ugly."
"I heard that, Booker," the Libyan officer says mock-sharply, as he's just about to leave. "If you'd like, I can tell Mr. Rangin about that time on Betazed with you and the hotel buffet...?"
Rangin smiles at the comment. "Perhaps you should include that story in the encore of your show, Mr Graham, and, of course, you're welcome, we all need to try and help each other out."
Rangin heads off to the Admin offices, to find someone who can tell him and Lt. Delaney where Mr Khövsgöl might be and hopefully accompanied by Kylah and to a lesser extent Mr Graham.
As Rangin and Delaney are heading out the door, Collins suddenly moans in pain, clutches her lower abdomen and falls to the floor. After a moment of everyone's stunned silence, Dr. T'Var rushes to her side, removing the hand scanner from her medical tricorder as she does.
Suck it up, dammit, suck it up! Collins tries to control her breathing to no avail. She tries to stand but the pain won't let her straighten up, so she settles for sitting up, at which point she becomes aware of how wet her slacks are. Then she notices the red puddle, on which she is sitting, getting larger.
Graham wonders why the hell it is taking so long for everyone to leave the CP. Although concerned about Kylah getting ahead of their little group, he turns back, impatiently, to see what's going on.
"Oh shit," he says out loud as he catches a glimpse at what's happening. He shoulders his way to Collins, takes one knee and puts a hand on her shoulder. With the other he pulls out his communicator. "Graham to Yorktown. Prepare for emergency medical evacuation. Human female, traumatic blood loss. Details to follow from Dr. T'Var."
"Let the doc do her thing," he says to Collins. "You'll be all right."
Before Collins can object to being sent back to the ship, another pain in her abdomen causes her to cry out. I don't understand. Have I been poisoned? Why would someone do that? Then the truth of the situation occurs to her, and she starts to cry.
As he walks out of the room, Rangin hears the cry from Lt. Collins and puts his hand out to stop the door closing on the group of four leaving. He looks across and sees that Mr Graham has run across to where Lt. Collins was standing moments previously and the top of Dr T'Var is visible across the table.
Aware that getting in the way would only exacerbate matters and hearing the call from Graham to the USS Yorktown, he cannot help but feel useless while waiting for matters to unfold.
Kylah feels more than hears the painful cry of the mission commander. Gasping, she turns around and sees Graham rushing from the group back into the room while Rangin stands by the doorway staring down. She moves forward hesitantly to look inside. She can't see Collins, but looking down, she sees a widening pool of blood by Graham's feet.
Sympathy and guilt mingle in Kylah's heart. Her dislike for Collins does not mean she cannot feel for the woman's fear and pain. She wants to reach Collins and say something reassuring, that the doctors will do all they can, that she must stay still and listen to whatever T'Var tells her. But she does not dare. Collins does not want her now.
She is unable to do anything but follow her second instinct: to clutch at Rangin's arm. Collins's anguish is palpable. And it is familiar. Kylah's mother had six pregnancies by the time Kylah was ten, and only two of the fetuses survived.
"She is losing it," she whispers, more to herself than Velir.
"You'll be ll right, if I have anything to do with it" is what Graham wants to say, as he's said to wounded colleagues in the past--but of course, in this case, you don't have anything to with it, he thinks.
He's not sure what's going on--and is not sure he wants to know--but keeps his hand on Collins' shoulder. "Take it easy, you'll be OK," he says.
"Call out what you need, Doc, I have a channel open to Yorktown," he says to T'Var.
Watching impotently, Kylah cannot help feeling bitter at the cruelty of such circumstances happening on a planet described as a realm of perfect happiness and peace. The spores led to her own misery last night, and now they can do nothing for...
Kylah's eyes widen and she pulls Rangin away from the door to speak to him alone in the corridor. "Velir," she whispers urgently, now clutching his arm with both hands. "I would not violate privacy but this is an emergency. I do not know if you are aware of this, but Lt. Collins is pregnant. First trimester. I fear she is miscarrying."
She flicks a worried glance at the CP before returning to Rangin. "This may be a mad suggestion, but... could the spores help her? In our original mission briefing, you told us the spores repaired old wounds, even regenerated organs that had been surgically removed. Is there any chance they might--might fix whatever is wrong now, with the fetus? Would it be worth contacting the Research Lab?"
Dr. T'Var runs a quick scan of Collins, feels the Security officer's abdomen with her own hands, and says to Graham, "Have them beam us up immediately. We will need a Medical team in the Transporter Room on the double." Collins moans and then screams in pain.
Graham passes the word, and in moments Collins and T'Var are beamed up to the ship.
"What the..." Delaney begins, clearly stunned. "What just happened?"
Feeling Kylah's hands wrapped round his arm, Rangin puts his own over the top of them and holds tight in a matched sense of helplessness at what just happened.
When she pulls him off to one side and tells him quietly what she fears might be happening, he is pretty dumbstruck.
He looks back, "I don't think it will help. The spores don't work that quickly and a large bleed is a large bleed. They may stop it sooner in boosting the body and help with the recovery, but a wound is a wound. It would certainly aid in her recovery."
He face turns grim, "The bad news though, I don't know what effect it would have on any fetus, but I don't think it would be positive. When I looked up on the colony, everyone who arrived was fine, The same group were evacuated to Starbase 27 three years later. It's a colony, there for years...no new children...don't you find that odd? Consider what a fetus is at its basest level, a collection of cells parasiting off a host. What do you think the effect of the spores is likely to be on something like that. Regardless, I've got a copy of the research docs, I'll take a look see if it is mentioned, but I can't see that being part of the testing done here."
Paradise indeed, thinks Rangin, a perfect unchanging stasis and all that entails.
As Dr T'Var and Lt. Collins beam out, Lt. Delaney shows his surprise. He was obviously not told of what had happened. Rangin shudders he really hopes that Lt. Collins recovers, just when she was starting to show promise.
"Medical emergency, Sir and I hope that Lt. Collins recovers to tell us sooner rather than later. Sir, in the absence of her and Dr T'Var, you are currently the ranking officer."
The gentle but solid touch of Velir's hand on hers helps steady Kylah's nerves. She nods dimly at the information he tells her about the likelihood of the spores being of no use--possibly even harm--to the fetus. It was a foolish idea born of desperation. The grim truth is that the amount of blood on the floor indicates that the prospect of saving the pregnancy, and possibly even Collins's life, even more grave.
When he speaks to Delaney, she lifts her cold hands to her mouth and tries to reassure herself. T'Var will help her. The other doctors, too. Mother had four miscarriages and she survived. But the words do not calm her or assuage her guilt. After spending her entire time on the Yorktown mistrusting, disliking and even fearing this woman, Kylah cannot reconcile what she's always known of Jeremi Collins with the pale, crying, weakened creature collapsed on the floor.
She forces herself to look away from the blood and focus on the other officers in the room. Now there are only four of them. Collins will not return today--she must not, even if somehow the miscarriage is prevented and she recovers from the experience this afternoon. T'Var might stay with her.
Delaney is the ranking officer, as Velir said, and he will make the decisions. This is almost exactly the way Kylah would have wished the hierarchy to have been planned in the first place, but... Guilt stabs at her and she lowers her arms to hug herself. But not like this. No matter what I thought... not like this, I did not want this!
Timid and numb, Kylah lingers at the edge of the doorway, waiting for Delaney's orders--and for the Captain or Vargas to contact them.
Graham stands and takes a deep breath.
Shit.
He turns to Delaney. "Sir, I, ah...I recommend we clean this up ourselves. There are enough degrees of freedom around rumors and the possibility of people freaking out with a murder about to become public knowledge without some resort staff coming in here and mopping up a big bucket of blood."
He clears his throat. "Assuming no one's itching to volunteer, I'll have some cleaning materials beamed down, clean this up myself, and have the detritus beamed out. Uh, and maybe change my uniform afterward."
Kylah has no idea what anyone knows of Collins's condition. Velir clearly did not know. She guesses Graham might; his manner is not one of surprise, and normally--considering his suspicious nature--he would be the first person to suspect foul play. But Delaney seems at a loss, and the other security officers are probably not privy to Collins's personal issues.
It is not her place to reveal anything. But questions will be asked and someone should answer them. She clears her throat softly. "If--if I may, Lt. Delaney... Mr. Graham... perhaps we should ask for science officers to beam down and clean up medical waste?" She turns to Delaney. "You may not know this, but I think you should be informed. This terrible situation is almost certainly a complication resulting from a--a health condition of which Dr. T'Var and Lt. Collins were aware. Still, there is a possibility, however slight, that this was not natural. It seems it would be prudent to treat this as a potential crime scene. Scan her chair, the food, the coffee cups... I know it almost certainly is not the result of sabotage, but..." Kylah lifts her shoulders weakly as she looks at Graham. "Is it not best to avoid ruling anything out?"
Graham laughs grimly. "Maybe you should consider Security, Ensign." He nods. "Yes, you're right. I agree we should tox scan the blood, the food and drink...better safe than sorry. And I'll take any suggestion that gets me off the hook from crawling around the floor elbows deep in my mission commander's blood..."
He's no longer laughing, his face more grim. "Although I think I know what the uh, condition might be." He shakes his head, a lot more concerned about Collins now than he was previously. "Hell of a thing, if that's what it's about..."
"Shall I make it so, Del... sir?" he asks the engineer.
Delaney, clearly shaken, says, "Yes, scan everything she might have consumed or touched in the room." He contacts the ship to beam down cleaning materials.
Tricorder scans reveal nothing suspicious. You clean up the mess without too much difficulty.
After a few minutes, Vargas calls from the Yorktown. He says soberly, "Lt. JG Collins is receiving medical treatment in Sickbay. I am advised that it isn't life-threatening, but she will not be returning to the surface anytime soon. Ens. Graham, given the situation and your previous investigative experience, you are now in command of the landing party, effective immediately. You may follow through on whatever plans Mr. Collins had made, or issue new orders, as you see fit, but I expect you to find Mr. Wilson's murderer as soon as possible. Lt. JG Delaney, although you nominally outrank Mr. Graham, you will follow his orders to the letter. Understood?"
"Of course, sir," Delaney says.
Dodson, not entirely sure what is going on, looks to Ensign Mahmoud for cues, and awaits orders.
As Vargas speaks, Kylah inhales sharply. She is greatly relieved to hear Collins's condition is not critical, although she wishes it were possible to know exactly how Collins is--and her pregnancy. But of course that is not something that would be announced to the crew.
She is not altogether surprised that Graham would be given an effective field promotion, at least in responsibilities if not actual rank. It is how Vargas phrases the announcement that makes her eyes widen and stare at Delaney, then quickly look away in discreet sympathy. "Follow his orders to the letter," Vargas commanded the young lieutenant, as if he half-expected Delaney to foment some sort of rebellion. From what Kylah has seen of Delaney since joining the Yorktown, the notion is patently absurd. Why would Vargas demean him this way?
Then again, his attitude is in keeping with how Collins and even Graham have ignored and dismissed Delaney throughout the mission. It seems the entire Security department holds the poor man in contempt. Why? What could he possibly have done to earn such disfavor?
But Vargas's insulting words were not only for Delaney. "Find the murderer as soon as possible," he said, as if they were dawdling--when not even seven hours have passed since they learned of Wilson's death. If he is so concerned with speed, perhaps the bold Commander should reconsider my suggestion of providing more officers, rather than this skeleton crew. Indeed, why does he not beam down himself? Or is he too busy to catch a killer?
With insubordination burning in her breast, Kylah keeps her face neutral but lets her gaze again seek Velir's. The truth of this upheaval is sinking in like a leaden weight. No Collins, possibly no T'Var, and clearly no further reinforcements. And Graham now in charge.
This will be a long day.
If Rangin had any doubts where Cmdr. Vargas' feelings lay it is now obviously with an old school Security approach. He wondered if Graham and Cmdr. Vargas had trained at the same time and he had more trust in that direction than allowing someone outside of Security to run the show. After all, it was Lt. Collins who had been leading the mission here.
Rangin is glad to hear that Lt. Collins is out of danger, but what the impact to her mental state is unknown, though he hopes she does recover quickly. He feels sorry for Lt. Delaney, who once again has been sidelined and now has been specifically ordered to follow everything. Rangin wonders if Graham will start missing off the Sir when speaking to him, it wouldn't be a surprise if he did.
He looks across at Graham wondering what he must be feeling, probably elation, he gets to run a team again and treat everyone like a junior. Then again, Lt. Collins plan was his suggestions and Rangin waits to see how he splits it up again, or if he will miss more tasks. Of course, Graham is now ranking, so should he go and see the Vice-Admiral? Unlikely, really. He's more likely to use the opportunity to go lurking after Kylah. In between spying on her and then the comment about getting on top, Rangin begins to feel a little more concern for Kylah. Especially as last time, it was Delaney who broke up the issue between them. No, Rangin is fairly sure Graham is going to be using and abusing his new found authority in some way. He'd seen plenty of people like that back on Coridan.
He looks across at Kylah and meets her gaze, his normally calm demeanour now etched with traces of concern. For her, for the team, for what Graham might do.
Graham puts his hands on his hips. “Well—a homicide and a casualty are not how I want to wind up in command of a mission,” he says to the group. But we all heard the man, we’ve got a job to do.”
He clasps his hands behind his back. “We’re down a couple people…so we need everybody to be at their best, individually, and as a team.”
He takes a deep breath. He can’t count how many away missions he’s commanded—for good or ill, mostly good—but for all the comfort familiarity with command gives him, he’s worried about both personal and group dynamics. As much because of me as because of Collins or any of them, he thinks. At least Mahmoud got put in charge of the Security detail…one bit of good luck.
He clears his throat and makes sure looks from person to person around the room as he speaks. “Three ground rules: one, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If we’re telling guests there’s no reason to panic, neither should we. Because of this, and the need to make faster progress, we’ll operate solo by default…however…” he pauses and gestures for emphasis. “Two. When interacting with any person of interest or suspect we will operate in pairs. No exceptions.” He tries not to glance at Kylah while he says this, but can’t help doing it anyway.
“And three. Mr. Mahmoud—as you get up to speed on the situation, you will exercise your judgment about the level of risk. Likewise, you’re all smart enough to know when you ought to check in—something gives the willies, or you’re going to enter a non-public area…if you can’t reach me you will check in with him for his guidance. If you hear of or observe any situation that concerns you Mr. Mahmoud, you will offer your Security guidance. By 'guidance' I mean that if he says you need a wingman—er, or woman,” he adds, nodding to the (rather fetching) female officer—“you’ll accept one. Or if he wants you clad in medieval chain mail and riding in a main battle tank, you’ll do it without question.”
“Anyone who does not comply with rules two and three will be sent back to the ship.”
He bows his head for a moment and rubs his chin. “All right, now to get to it. Lieutenant—you’re our technical expert,” he says to Delaney. “In your view, what’s the highest and best use of your skills right now?”
He taps his own chest. “As mission commander I need to see the Admiral. And I suppose try to contact Wilson’s wife. Mr. Kylah and Mr. Rangin--my preference is to rendezvous after I’ve done these two things to make the announcement and question Mrs. Hsu. There are a number of things on the to do list that you could do individually or as a duo—subject to the ground rules—you may use your judgment to choose which to tackle before then.”
“Unless needed for back-up, Collins’ orders for the Security team to be on station providing visible reassurance stand.”
He shrugs. “I…know this may be a difficult moment, for some of you, for…ah, any number of reasons,” he says, glancing in turn at Delaney, Rangin, and Kylah. “If you have any concerns, come see me one-on-one. Permission to speak freely will be granted.” He grimaces internally, half expecting he just laid out a red carpet invitation to a lecture from Rangin. “Otherwise--unless there are questions—let's get to it and work like a team."
Rangin stops, blinks and rubs his eyes at Graham pronouncements. He can't quite believe that Graham has just thrown his own plans that he gave to Lt. Collins out the window with a casual do what you think is best. So much for being the voice of experience and leading the team.
Rangin shrugs and turns to Kylah, "What do you reckon, do you want to double up on interviews. Get them over and done with sooner rather than later?"
Dobson listens to the new plans, wondering what was wrong with the old ones, then looks to Mahmoud for her assignment. "Sir, where do you need me?"
Well, it is now crystal clear that Vargas, Collins and Graham are all cut from the same cloth. Now Graham insists that they follow this Mahmoud person's orders "without question." Kylah is bitterly certain Starfleet Security officers are no different from any of the men she knew on Elas.
For the first time since her family's connections allowed Aldaan to manipulate her onto the Yorktown, Kylah has an almost overwhelming desire to contact her guardian and tell him to pull whatever strings he has to gain her a promotion. Then it would be I ordering around any of these meager-brained, bullying, presumptuous--
Velir is speaking to her. She looks at him and it takes a few seconds for her to digest his words. "Yes! Of course, Mr. Rangin," she says in relief. "I would greatly appreciate that. Although..." Her voice trails off reluctantly. As much as she would love to work with Velir and no one but him, her conscience will not allow her to grab at this lifeline just for her own benefit without considering the bigger picture.
She turns to Graham. "Making recommendations for a resort-wide announcement, including security measures... Mr. Graham is, as Commander Vargas said, the person with the most expertise in such things. Do you wish to put that off further, or should we not handle that immediately?"
Frankly, Kylah is tired of continually having to remind mission commanders of what Commander Vargas himself ordered. She knows she sounds like a communicator stuck on a loop, but that is their fault for being such poorly organized so-called leaders.
Perhaps he will chide me for not running my suggestion through Mr. Mahmoud first, she thinks blackly.
Am I speaking freaking Klingon? Graham wonders as Kylah asks him about the announcement. He's on the edge of getting seriously annoyed, but the fact that he's been so consistently misunderstood plus the fact that perhaps moreso than anyone on the team Kylah seems to be earnestly trying to do her best and contribute makes him choke it down.
And if she's really trying to do her job, then the answer to whether last night was all for fun or whether things got off the rails is...The thought makes him tired...and a little sad. There's no way to fix it at the moment, he thinks. I will probably make it worse--again--if I try.
He takes a second to collect his thoughts, and answers in a soft voice. "It's, ah...it's 1-2-3, Ensign. Yes I need to attend to the announcement. But first the senior--uh, acting senior--officer should brief the Admiral. And...well protocol or not, I don't want to make the announcement and have some random staffer Wilson's wife knows hit her with a guess-what-somebody-just announced your husband is dead call."
He slaps himself on the forehead. "Shit, I don't know her name..." He rubs his forehead. "Yeah well, better make sure to collect that bit of info too."
He starts to turn to go and then stops. "Thanks for, ah, keeping us honest, can't speak for Collins but, as I see it, me and Collins both. I know it's tough when sometimes you make a suggestion and you don't feel like it's given its due."
Delaney says, "Sir, I think I should keep trying to get into Mr. Wilson's hidden safe. That would probably be the best use of my time. I also wonder... should we ask for the ship to beam down some additional Security officers? And maybe another doctor or a medic, since we've lost Dr. T'Var for now?"
Mahmoud says to Dodson, "You and Crewman Markovich go the park where Wilson was found. Other guests will be coming out of those houses as the morning continues; interview them as the occasion arises and gather any useful intel. And show the flag to reassure the guests that we're here to keep them safe. If that suits you, Mr. Graham?"
"Makes sense, have at that safe, then," Graham replies to Delaney. "Good point about some medical expertise. I'd like T'Var back because she has context already, but if she won't be back soon we need to fill that gap. I'll enquire on that. Do you see a, hm, specific use for additional security officers, sir?"
Graham wonders what he should call Delaney. Whatever I do, he might think I'm being a jerk because I got the nod... he thinks. What the hell did I call him yesterday, he wonders, drawing a blank. "I don't want to make this feel like an armed camp unless that's necessary. Uh, De-Lieutenant," he adds, smiling, "if this is a hint that you're planning on getting stabbed in the back while you work on that safe, I'm sure we can spare somebody."
He glances at Mahmoud. "It does...and you two, if you talk to a Mrs. Webb tell her Ensign Graham hopes she's feeling more rested."
Kylah nods tersely and clamps her mouth shut. She is more annoyed by the implication that she would demand an announcement without asking if Mr. Wilson's family were notified yet than his suggestion that Kylah feels mortally wounded every time her own ideas are not accepted. If the latter were the case, she would have been dead long ago.
It does not matter. She has tried in vain to get her various superior officers to listen to their superior officer, and by now has no heart for it. Very well, Graham, you are Vargas's right hand now; I'm sure he will not care if you do not follow his orders. Just as Collins could disobey him at will, apparently so can you. Despite his well-honed "just a regular clumsy grunt" persona, Graham seems besotted with the idea that he must speak to the Vice Admiral immediately. Obviously he places speaking to Hardin at a greater priority than the guests' welfare.
And now his friend Mahmoud wants some random security crewman who has not even been briefed on the circumstances and indivduals in the case to interview the chief suspects? Of course Graham will applaud such a thing. Why not? It is clear how these people think. Any security crew member, no matter how ignorant due to having arrived five seconds ago, must be superior in every way to those not blessed with a genius for shooting phasers and flexing muscles. Even though we have been involved at the resort for the past 24 hours. Will Graham ignore the big dangerous flaw in Mahmoud's plan?
Kylah turns to Rangin and murmurs, "Since our senior officer pro tem wishes us to use our judgment until he has completed his tete a tete with the Vice Admiral, I agree that we might as well seek out the guests to whom we have not yet spoken. Shall we?"
Then she hears Graham approve Mahmoud's suggestion--exactly as she predicted. While she is turned away from him, her eyes close and she gathers her strength. Then she turns around again.
"Before you dismiss us, permission to speak with you alone, Mr. Graham?"
"Hm?" Graham says, surprised by Kylah's question. "Of course," he adds quickly. "Sir," he says to Delaney, "If you don't mind, I'll find you in a few moments if you'd like to talk further, so Ensign Kylah can get on with her own tasks."
He smiles--despite the fact that his track record with Kylah is uneven to say the least, he's relieved he's not about to be on the receiving end of some kind of philosophical screed from Rangin. "Walk with me," he says, gesturing toward the hallway where they can talk privately.
"I'd reiterate that permission to speak freely is granted," he says, feeling a certain amount of..what? Affection, pride. She's about Elizabeth's size, and despite the fact that he'd let so much distance open up between himself and his daughter, she'd never been intimidated in the least. As much as it hurt when she'd stare him down and tell him how wrong he was, he'd felt proud of her at the same time. Clearly Kylah was cut from the same cloth. "But I don't think it's necessary in your case. What's on your mind?"
Kylah gives a slight worried look toward Rangin before stepping out alone with Graham. She was the one who sought the meeting, she should not be so daunted by his granting her request.
"I am simply concerned, sir," she says, her voice a bit labored. Her legs have to move more quickly to keep apace with his, and despite the pain relief T'Var gave her, her knee is still causing her some difficulty. "The lack of organization that--I do not wish to speak ill of Lt. Collins when she is in such unfortunate circumstances, but I am speaking freely--the lack of organization that has plagued the mission from the start is not improving. I worry about the haphazardness we are displaying. Why have we not created a written list of things that need to be accomplished, to be kept in our communicators, or even on a screen in the CP? None of us, not even the most experienced, can keep all the facts in our head, and things are going to slip past."
She tilts her head and stops walking, waiting for him to notice she has stopped before continuing. "For example, you have just granted permission to one of the new security team members--someone who knows little to nothing about the dynamics of the case--to interview any guest who wanders out of one of the houses." Kylah lets a moment's pause follow her words before continuing archly: "I understand she is one of the 'band of brothers' in Security, and thus rates more respect than the rest of us. But did you really intend for her to be granted this unrestricted leave to interview just anyone? Including the interview that has been postponed all day, at your behest--Lord Fastolfe?"
Graham's listening intently enough to Kylah, very nearly closing his eyes out of both fatigue and concentration, that he walks several steps past her after she stops.
He hustles back towards her when he realizes this. He smiles slightly. "Way to go for the jugular, Liz - er, Ensign," he says softly. "You're more than right about Fastolfe." His voice gets a little louder and firmer. "You're wrong about Security rating more respect. They've been briefed, they know the job that they've been trained for. And if any of them didn't, Faisal would tell me." He shrugs and spreads his hands. "But let's not let that distract from what you're right about. They ought to give Fastolfe a pass until we're ready to deal with him."
"I'll issue that order, he says." He pauses to look at her for a moment. "Thank you," he says, sincerely.
"As far as a task list - I think we've been through it, we've discussed the list enough, what we need to do is get some things done." He taps his foot. "But fair point about memorializing the tasks as a checklist everyone can work against." He pauses a moment. "Before you and Rangin move on to what you think is the highest priority task, make it so. Spend 15 minutes making the list. Push it out via communicator and tricorder to the whole team."
He turns and heads back to the CP to find Delaney. "And I'll see you at the admin offices in a bit to deal with this announcement."
"Aye, Sir" Dobson responds and heads to her post without waiting to see if Markovich is accompanying her.
Kylah watches Graham leave her far behind, despite the fact that she too must return to the CP. What was that about respect? she thinks dryly as she waits before beginning her return to the room. She is glad he acknowledged his omission of Lord Fastolfe, at least. But how he can follow that by saying the team all know everything that needs to be done, when he himself just proved that he cannot keep such essentials as Lord Fastolfe's interview in his head?
Of course, for reminding him of that omission, she earned the equivalent of a child who must write a misspelled word over and over again as punishment. And not just her; Velir, too, is to be treated like an administrative assistant while the professionals handle the real work. He will be angry with me, Kylah thinks, suddenly embarrassed that she inadvertently caused him such a rote assignment.
Her mind returns to Graham and how rankled she is by his denial of the obvious preferential treatment he shows his fellow security officers or crewmen. It does not surprise her, of course, but it still rankles. Especially considering he followed this denial with a blanket assurance that the entire Security team were professionals and trustworthy and of course his friend had briefed them because... well, apparently, simply because they are Security; a circular argument if ever she heard one.
Has he ever given her or especially Velir such similar deference or assumption of their professionalism? Kylah knows she does not deserve it, she has not earned it yet, and considering what Graham has seen of her actions, he is likely confused by her combination of idiocy and emotionalism when balanced against her intellectual instincts, which she knows are good. Even he has said so. But likely he thinks her flighty and unpredictable, the very essence of immaturity.
But Velir Rangin certainly deserves respect. Not merely through his career but the life he has undoubtedly led back on Coridan. Still Graham treats him like a dreamy-eyed idealistic effete. And even if Kylah herself is not yet a seasoned officer and has made stupid choices, she has contributed the best of her abilities, often above and beyond those older than she. So has Velir, so has Delaney. Yet he, Vargas and Collins seem to believe them all to be first-year cadets who must be reminded of their duty.
She lives and breathes every duty belonging to her, from every quarter and multiple allegiences. No one need remind Kylah of her duty. No one.
Kylah returns to the CP and returns to Rangin's side. She has no idea how she looks, but she tries to seem calm and professional--although she cannot help giving him a flash of an apologetic smile. "I do not know if you will like what I have to say, Mr. Rangin," she says, still aware of the others in the room even though her voice is very quiet. "As a result of my--" She stops and starts over. "Mr. Graham has assigned us the task of organizing an agenda, a point-by-point list of things the team must be certain to address. I believe this will assist in ensuring we do not forget any loose strands of this tapestry. We are to send it to the others' communicators when through, and then attend the interviews as planned. I hope you...I hope you do not mind," Kylah finishes shyly.
Rangin sits back down as he listens to Graham organising the security detail and wonders if, in his may years of experience, if he had ever managed a group which wasn't solely comprised of security officers. The only reason he seemed to be paying attention to Lt. Delaney was because of rank and his attitude towards himself and Kylah made it clear he didn't actually know what their skills were. At least Lt. Collins had had a modicum of an idea.
He smiles at Kylah as she returns and fills him in on Graham's order. He sighs quietly, looks down and then starts to smile, a broad grin across his face and his eyes start to sparkle. If Graham was going to treat him as an intern, then so be it. He had worked for people like this before on science experiments, they always had their favourites, their own ways of doing things, anyone else was of no real consequence and not expected to really contribute. It was a completely illogical position, but then you didn't bother arguing with someone who reached the position through blind faith or stupidity. If he wanted to ignore their talents, so be it.
"Oh goodie, an admin task, I feel so fulfilled.", Rangin says dryly at a slightly raised volume, "I see Mr Graham is looking to fully utilise our talents. I'll make sure to use short words just for him. Here was I, thinking I was around to investigate the spores and their effects, but I can see I was mistaken. One agenda, coming right up."
Rangin turns to the computer in front of him, cracks his knuckles and starts compiling.
Surprised to see Velir smile, Kylah listens and realizes he is simply amused by the change of assignment. She could continue to let him think this is all Graham's fault, but...
She sits down beside him and rests a hand on his arm for a second before withdrawing it. "I am to blame," she murmurs. Quickly explaining the discussion she had with Graham, including his forgetting to warn the security crewman away from Lord Fastolfe, she finishes: "I thought perhaps if we all worked out an agenda, such things would not slip through the cracks, and... and that is when he said you and I should create one." She shakes her head. "I did not expect him to--I mean, I thought it would be the whole group, not just us. I am sorry."
With a sigh she pulls her chair away from him and looks at the terminal. Like Velir, she starts typing her thoughts on items that she remembers that ought to be investigated.
- Guest house inhabitants not yet interviewed: Ettoo-Oms, Fastolfe, Golds, Jaxo, Calvin, HutchinsonsShe pauses and bites her lip, thinking.
- Determine whether any have investments in WR&R or rivals
- Follow-up with: Palver, Aubrey
- Wilson's background, his own investments?
- Staff interviews, esp. security team re: missing video
- Hsus
- Transporter trace found in park. Were any of the hotel's transporters used recently?
- Ask maid staff when Wilson's suite last cleaned
- Safe: Delaney working on this. Ask Mrs. Hsu about it as well
- Nightclub and any restaurants open late: check for alibis
Graham vaguely hears Rangin expounding about his fulfillment or something in the CP. He briefly considers mentioning that he has a challenging assignment that will utilize his xenobio skills: that proximity to Coridantites has started giving me splitting hadaches.
But he thinks better of it. "Infinitely Debate Everything and Argue" should be the new heuristic for this team, he thinks, sighing.
In the CP, Graham will:
Apologize to Delaney for the interruption and follow up on his rationale for the additional Security officers.
Use the CP's systems to find an image of Fastolfe, transmit it to Mahmoud and tell him that he's suspect to be interviewed at a later time--the Security team should not interview him if they run into him.
And to look up Wilson's wife's name.
Finally he makes a note in his mission log that Ensign Kylah acted with alertness and discretion to correct an oversight on his part that was potentially material to the investigation.
Rangin whispers quietly to Kylah as she leans in close. "I do not blame you for this, please do not be sorry. I fully intend to not only outdo our new team leader, but document it for all to see. After all, who else is going to write things for him, other than those who requires intelligence on a day by day basis or who can communicate well. His new best friends will all be excused, of course. However, consider Graham's words about doing what we think best. I have every intention of assisting to find the murderer, but I also enjoy being given carte blanche to do so. As long as we can justify it, we can do as we see fit. Ready?" His voice only audible for Kylah to hear, but the meanings and smile are more than obvious.
Dobson slowly walks around what's left of the crime scene, still neither noticing, nor caring if Markovich is there as well, looking for clues that might have been missed. She then picks a spot with good sight lines of the whole area and stands at parade rest.
Kylah nods as Rangin speaks, and cannot help admiring his ability to rise to the challenge of working for a man who despises him--and especially, Velir's determination to do his job to the best of his abilities no matter how much his skills are dismissed. In truth, Kylah wishes she had half his aplomb when she was working under similar circumstances with Collins.
At first they work separately, and when their initial notes are completed, Rangin and Kylah compare notes, looking at each other's lists, commenting and making suggestions. Fifteen minutes pass in rather pleasant, colleagial collaboration as they begin the task of combining their notes into an agenda with suggested assignments. When through, they look at the finished product:
================================
Agenda
- Top Priority as recommended by Cmdr. Vargas: General Announcement to resort and others.
Interviews*: The following require questioning, politely and gently of course.
Staff:
- Mrs Hsu
- Mr Hsu
- Dr Halsey
- Mr Khövsgöl
- (Transporter Engineer?)
Guests:
- Miss Aubrey (House #12, follow-up)
- Mr Palver (House #2, follow-up)
- Mrs Calvin (House #9, new)
- Lord Fastolfe (House #5, new)
- Golds (House #6, new)
- Hutchisons (House #11, new)
- Ettoo-Oms (House #4, new)
- Prolun Jaxo (House #8, new)
- Mrs. Webb (House #3, follow-up)
Technical**:
- Investigate safe in Mr Wilson's suite.
- Investigate transporter(s) on resort.
- Investigate surveillance outage.
Biological***:
- Investigate state of spore plants on resort.
Fact Finding:
- Monitor requests for spore therapy introduction.
- Details of records of staff at Nightclub.
- Gather DNA evidence. (ethically, of course)
- Discover cleaning schedule of Mr Wilson's suite.
- Await response of Yorktown queries re. Wilson background check and safe.
- Determine safety and schedule of Research Lab staff.
Security:
- Provide a stable and welcome presence around resort.
- Gather information from local guests and security.
- Discover if there is a third variant of the murder weapon and discover location.
- Arrange Command Post access for new Security team.
- Arrange Command Post access for Vice Admiral's Security team.
- Arrange Security team rotation as required.
Team:
- Arrange refreshments/lunch for team members
- Arrange break times for team members who have been awake since 4am.
Other:
- Talk to Vice-Admiral Hardin
- Talk to Lt. Cmdr. Ebling
- Brief current Starfleet protection around the Vice Admiral
- Convince the Vice Admiral to return to the USS Yorktown
- Other ships in orbit (e.g. Fastolfe's yacht): consider requesting permission to interview crew re: any unusual transmissions they may have noticed
Notes:
*Cmdr. Vargas has recommended all interviews take place with Ens. Kylah (Comms.) present
** i.e. Lt. Delaney (Tech.)
***: i.e. Ens. Rangin (Sci.)
================================
"I cannot think of anything we missed," Kylah says. "Although I am sure I have forgotten something. My brain is not working as it should. I can barely put two words together."
"If thats true, it's not very noticeable by most standards." Rangin smiles encouragingly. "But we're all working on little sleep, and none of us are exactly on top form right now. Let's hope those rest breaks are taken into consideration by our new mission commander--getting some rest isn't just a luxury, it's a necessity if we're to get this job done."
Kylah smiles appreciatively and, after they decide the agenda is as complete as they can make it, she sends off the final draft to each of the team members, including herself and Rangin. Then she saves and closes the file, protecting it with her own password.
"Shall we go to the guest residences now? Might as well begin with the people who haven't been seen yet," Rangin asks, and Kylah agrees. Making sure the room is secure, the pair head off together.
They are passing the lobby when Kylah stops short. "Oh! I must speak to the man at the front desk for a moment." While Rangin looks mildly curious, he joins her.
"Excuse me," Kylah says apologetically. (Assuming it's the same person on duty...) "I am so very sorry for causing any inconvenience to the staff member who was kind enough to open the gift shop. My injury and duties made it impossible for me to visit after all. I will go later, but if possible, in the meantime, could you please apologize to him or her?"
Posted w/CatInASuit's permission; agenda mostly by him!
Graham recalls that Mrs. Hsu's first name is Mattie.
Delaney says, "No apology necessary, Mr. Graham. I suggested additional Security members because of all that needs to be done, and the fact that we're two short in the landing party with Mr. Collins and Dr. T'Var having returned to the ship."
It is a different person at the front desk when Kylah inquires, but the staffer there makes a note, saying, "I'll be sure to see that she gets it, ma'am."
Markovich follows Dodson to the park. He is slightly junior to her in length of Starfleet service, although both are of the same rank. He looks at her oddly for her apparent disregard of him but says nothing. A few minutes after they arrive, an older woman comes down the stairs from one of the guest houses. Dodson recognizes her from their shipboard briefing as Rosemary Calvin, the famous novelist.